My question, building off the idea that his hits are often predictable and are all very similar in 'style', is how do you protect yourself as a forward? Go low?

No, I agree. I mean, I don't think he launches himself as much as people say (though he has in the past), but his hits are always so awkward looking and I think that plays a part in that thinking. It's not like Scott Stevens where the shoulder was going to your head, especially if it was down.

Edit - Just watched some of the top 10 and yeah, a good part of them show him leading with his back. There's nothing illegal about it, but it's just strange.

kronwall leaves his feet less than people think. he usually gets airborne after contact. which would be fine...except for the fact that he consistently makes people's heads the primary point of contact. whether or not the other guy was appropriately defending himself by "keeping his head up" couldn't be less relevant in terms of right/wrong.

shmenguin wrote:kronwall leaves his feet less than people think. he usually gets airborne after contact. which would be fine...except for the fact that he consistently makes people's heads the primary point of contact. whether or not the other guy was appropriately defending himself by "keeping his head up" couldn't be less relevant in terms of right/wrong.

Keeping one's head up has no bearing on the right/wrongness of Kronwall's hits. It's just the best defense to avoid the hit, or minimizing the damage.

shmenguin wrote:kronwall leaves his feet less than people think. he usually gets airborne after contact. which would be fine...except for the fact that he consistently makes people's heads the primary point of contact. whether or not the other guy was appropriately defending himself by "keeping his head up" couldn't be less relevant in terms of right/wrong.

Even if it's less than people think, it's still a lot. Not sure how he consistently gets away with it.

shmenguin wrote:kronwall leaves his feet less than people think. he usually gets airborne after contact. which would be fine...except for the fact that he consistently makes people's heads the primary point of contact. whether or not the other guy was appropriately defending himself by "keeping his head up" couldn't be less relevant in terms of right/wrong.

I watched some of that it highlight tape and more than half of the hits I watched had him leaving his feet or targeting the head. Many had both. It is the way he keeps his left arm tucked but his elbow out that makes me uncomfortable. I, for one, loved seeing Laraque take his knee out. This guy has no respect for other players. Taking a run at a player with 2 seconds left to go in the period is pretty gutless. Has he ever been suspended?